Railway-swjtch mechanism



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. U. G. MEENAOH. RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM.

Patented July 2, 1895.

java/ 2? (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet.

U. G. MEENACH. RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM.

Patented July 2, 895

theswitchu the switch-stand, the shaft 4 UNIT D STATES- PATENT OF ICE.

'ULYssEs c.1nEnnAoH, or AL'IION, ILLINOIS;

RAILWAY-SWITCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 542,167, dated July 2, 1 895.

Application filed December 15, 1894. Serial No. 531,878 (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, ULYSSES G. MEENACH, of the city of Alton, in the county of Madison, in the State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement,in Railwayis closed when the train approaches its position will not be shifted-by the train, but it will remain closed.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. p

Figure I is a top or plan view illustrative of my invention. Fig. II is an enlarged section taken on line II II, Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged topview, part in horizontal section. Fig. IV is a detail vertical section taken on line IV IV, Fig. II. Fig. V is a detail side view showing the manner of hinging the plateinclosing wings. Fig. V1 is a'detail side elevation showing part of a locomotive with my improvement applied. Fig. VII is a top or plan view of same, part in section. Fig. VIII is a detail view in elevation, illustrative of the mechanism for moving the switch-throwing disk into inoperative position. Figs. IX

and X are enlarged-detail sectional views showing the manner of connecting the bellcrank lever to the disk-movingrod.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the rails of the main track, and 2- the rails of 3 represents of which is connected to the switch-bar 5, as

usual, by means of a crank 6.

7 representsabell-crank pivoted at 8 within a housing 9 and'which is also pivoted at 10 to the switch-bar 5. To the long end of the bell-crank 7 is connected one end of a rod 11,

the other endot which is connected at 12 to a lever 13. The lever 13 is pivoted at its far end from the rod 11, this pivot-point not being shown.

Connected to the lever 13, between its pivot ondland the rod 11,is a link 14, the other end a of which is made ,fast to one end of an arm -15, pivoted at 16, and connected about midway of its length by means of a link 17 to one end of a bell-crank lever 18, pivoted at 19, and the other end of which bears against the under side of a plate 20, that'is pivoted at 21 to the sides of a box 22. The other'end of the plate is connected by pivoted links 23 to the sides of the box, as shown in Fig. II.

24 represents wings hinged at 25 to the out side of the box,and which inclose the box,'as shown in Fig. IV, the wings being held in their closedposition by means of flat springs 26, secured to the box and bearing against the wings, as shown in Fig. V. r I

It will be seen that when theplate 20 is depressed the lower end of the lever 18 will be moved in the directionof the arrow, Fig. II, and that this movement will be imparted to the switch-points through means of the described connection, so that it the. switch isopen to the main track it will be closed. In Fig. II, I have shown the parts in the position they occu py before the plate 20 is depressed, while in Fig. III, I have shown the parts in the position they occupy when the plate has been depressed. I

As a means of depressing the plate 20, I have shown a wedge-shaped disk 30, secured to an extension 31 of one of the axles of the locomotive. As the train approaches the disk enters between the wi gs 24., the wings-yield ing to the pressure a come in contact with and depress the'plate 20, thereby moving the switch, as explained. When the disk leaves the wings,they are antoniatically closed by the springs 26.

'32 represents grooved guides for directing the disk between the wings 24.-

35 represents a; signal-plate secured to a shaft 36, that forms a journal of the lower link 23, so as to indicate the position of the switch, as this signal-plate will be moved from its horizontal to its vertical position by the move ment of the plate 20. To prevent the switch being thus automatically operated when the engine is being used for switching purposes, I have arranged the disk 30 so that it can'be shifted laterally out of the path of the wings 24. This is done by loosely mounting the disk on the extension 31 of'the axle, and providing a yoke 37, that embraces the disk, as shown in d allowingthe disk -to Fig. VIII, and to which is connected a rod 38, Bupportedin a bracket 39, secured to the f ra me of the engine.

48 in the strap 40. (See 5 I seen that the slight vibrations of t will be taken up by the spring 48i'and will drawn inwardly,

By pulling the rod 38 inwardly the disk 30 will be moved out of line with the wings 24, so that the switch will not be automagically operated by the engine as it p ses. Tot us move the rod 38, Icon nect it by m one of a strap 40 to one end of a bell-crank layer 41, pivoted at 42, and to the other end of w ich is connected :1 chain 43, that passes beneath a grooved pulley or roller 44, made fast 5 a bracket to the guard or cow-catcher of he engine. The outer end of the chain 43 is c'onnectedto the draw-bar 46 of the engine, nd it will beseen that when thedraw-tbar is m 'ed into using positionthat the disk 30 will be so as to be out of the path of the wings 24. When thedraw-bnr is lowered again, the disk will bedrawn back to its outer position by means of a spring 47.

'leprevent thedisk being constantly l 'oved slightly by the vibration of the d-rawar 46 when in its raised position, I locate the pring Figs. IX a d X.) The outer end of the strap bears agai st this spring, as shown at 49,while the inne end of the strapis connected byabolt 50 to t; e end of the bell-crank lever 4'1. The bolt 51, that connects the rod 38 to the strap 40} passes through the spring 48, and has a block 52 at its inner end, the block bearing aga'hst the inner end of the spring 48, and 'haviryg a slot. 53 that receives the bolt 50. It; will! thus be e bar 46 not he imparted to the disk 30.

I claim as my inventien 1. In a'railwayswitch mechanisr 1, the combination of a lever 13 connected to, he switch, an arm Iii-connected to said lever, a lever 18 connected to said arm, a movable late 20 bearing against the lever 18, the m vable wings 24,:1nd awedge shaped disk 30 carried by the locomotive for engaging the ,plate 20, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' -2 In a railwayswitch mechanism,the co|nhination of a movable plate 20, movable wings 24.,and mechanism connected with the switch and operated by the movement of said plate, said plate being adapted tov be moved by a disk carried by the locomotive, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. In a railwayswitch mechanism,the combination of a movable plate 20, mechanism located between the plate and the switch wherebythe latter is operated when the plate is moved,and'spring pressed wings 24 inclosing the plate','said plate being adapted to be moved by a disk carried on the locomotive, substantially as set forth.

4. In a. railway switch mechanism,the combination of a plate 20, a lever 18 pivoted beneath the plate, and mechanism connecting the lever to the switch, said plate being pivoted at one end and connected at the other end to a signal shaft by means of links 23, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a railway switch mechanism,thecombination of a movable plate, the movable wings, mechanism connected to the switch and adapted to be operated by the plate, and means for moving the plate consisting of a wedgeshaped disk 30 carried by the locomotive and movably mounted upon an arm 31, so that it may be shifted out of the path of said plate, substantially as set forth.

6. In a railwayswitch mechanisnnthe com bination of a movable plate 20, movable-wings 24, mechanism located between the plate and the switch, and means for moving the plate consisting of a wedge-shaped disk 30, loosely mounted upon anarm 31,and means for moving the disk out of the path of said plate, consisting of ayoke 37,a bell crank lever 41, a strap 40, a bolt 51, a spring 48, a block 52 having a slot 53, a bolt between said bell crank lever and the draw bar 46 of the locomotive, substantiallyas set forth.

' ULYSSES G. MEENACII.

In presence of E. B. J AESTING, O. L. Panwrr'r.

50, and a connection 

